Saoirse Ronan’s reaction to Paul Mescal shows the power of calling people out

• A recording of Saoirse Ronan responding to Paul Mescal’s joke about self-defense has appeared online.
• Mescal joked that he would end the phone call to use the phone as a weapon against his attacker.
• Ronan said women must always consider using everyday items to defend themselves.

Fans on social media praised Saoirse Ronan after the clip of him replying Paweł MescalThe self-defense joke went viral.

Ronan appeared on an episode of “The Graham Norton Show” alongside Paul Mescal, Eddie Redmayneand Denzel Washington, airing October 25.

Redmane discussed playing an assassin in his latest TV project, “The Day of the Jackal.” He said that while training with a combat expert for the role, he learned to use his phone as a weapon against an attacker.

In response, Mescal joked, saying, “Who will really think about it? If someone attacks me, I’m not going to “call.”

The “Aftersun” actor imitated the call, and Redmayne responded with a laugh: “That’s a very good point.”

However, Ronan was not convinced. She interjected, “That’s what girls have to think about all the time.”

In the recording, the other men stopped talking for a moment, then Ronan added: “Am I right, ladies?” The audience cheered and applauded the Irish actor.

The clip went viral on X, with one user writing the caption: “Saoirse Ronan gags men, we love watching it.”

Ronan has often used her platform to draw attention to women’s rights and has previously advocated for abortion. In 2019 she gave a lecture on feminism for students in Dublin, where she also discussed inequality in Hollywood.

Hollywood’s attitudes toward sexual misconduct have begun to change since the #MeToo movement exploded on social media in 2017 following widespread sexual assault allegations Harvey Weinstein and his subsequent arrest.

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Study conducted by the organization in 2023 Women in film of 266 current and former industry workers said 59% of respondents believe the culture regarding harassment, harassment and misconduct in Hollywood has improved since 2022.

But Ronan and Mescal’s footage sparked a conversation about how men still don’t understand how women feel about safety.

In 2018, the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University conducted: #MeToo poll where 81% of women and 43% of men admitted that they had experienced sexual harassment or assault in their lives.

There was a test repeat in 2024. Of the 3,300 participants surveyed, 82% of women and 42% of men had experienced sexual harassment or assault in their lives. Despite greater awareness of women’s safety since 2017, overall, little has changed.

One of X’s users explained this: “Saoirse Ronan is a queen. Men need reminders of what it is like to be a woman so they can appreciate their privilege.”

X users were quick to notice the stunned silence of Norton and the other male guests immediately after Ronan’s comment. The actress made a great case for the power of speaking out as the only woman in a male-centric space.